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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 11 · General History · 31 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 11 · Chapter 21: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Explanation of the Vedic Path
11.21.1911.21.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 11.21.20

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 11.21.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitLord Kṛṣṇa → Uddhava

कलेर्दुर्विषह: क्रोधस्तमस्तमनुवर्तते ।

तमसा ग्रस्यते पुंसश्चेतना व्यापिनी द्रुतम् ॥ २० ॥

kaler durviṣahaḥ krodhas

tamas tam anuvartate

tamasā grasyate puṁsaś

cetanā vyāpinī drutam

Translation

From quarrel arises intolerable anger, followed by the darkness of ignorance. This ignorance quickly overtakes a man’s broad intelligence.

Read the purport on Vedabase.io

From Canto 10, chapter 14 onward, the translation and purports were completed by Śrīla Prabhupāda's disciples after his departure, and published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Anger Obscures Intelligence and Life’s Goal

  1. 1

    The desire for material association arises from denying that everything is God’s energy. We imagine sense objects to be separate from the Supreme Lord and desire to enjoy them.

  2. 2

    This desire gives rise to conflict and quarrel. Quarrel then produces great anger, making people foolish and destructive.

  3. 3

    Anger is followed by ignorance, which quickly overtakes broad intelligence. In this condition, the actual goal of human life is forgotten.

Key points from the purport
  • The desire for material association arises from one’s propensity to deny that everything is God’s energy.
  • Falsely imagining material sense objects to be separate from the Supreme Lord, one desires to enjoy them; such desire gives rise to conflict and quarrel in human society.
  • Thus the actual goal of human life is quickly forgotten.

The purport's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Striving → Complete devotional trust. The Lord redirects Uddhava toward enduring loving service.

Chapters 21–29 of Canto 11: Spiritual practice culminating in bhakti-yoga. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 21: Lord Kṛṣṇa’s Explanation of the Vedic Path

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The doctrine of varṇāśrama codifies precepts of bodily purity and impurity. With respect to place, purity and impurity are distinguished by such facts as the presence of black deer.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 11.21
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kaleḥfrom quarrel
  2. durviṣahaḥintolerable
  3. krodhaḥanger
  4. tamaḥignorance
  5. tamthat anger
  6. anuvartatefollows
  7. tamasāby ignorance
  8. grasyateis seized
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 11.21

    In this verse: “material”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does anger affect my ability to remember what truly matters in life?

Practice

When irritation arises today, pause before responding and remember that everything is the Supreme Lord’s energy.

Live this todayAnger Obscures Intelligence and Life’s GoalThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 11.21.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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